We need to hear your stories

Have you ever experienced conditions of extreme heat at work? Have you ever experienced a heat-related illness at work? 

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, and excessive heat in the workplace can cause adverse health effects, including heat stroke and even death, if not treated properly.

Long overdue, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a proposed rule titled “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings,” a significant step toward establishing a federal heat standard.

Some highlights

The proposed standard would require employers to:

• Develop and implement a work-site heat injury and illness prevention plan, with site-specific information and input from employees and their representatives, to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace.
• Identify heat hazards in both outdoor and indoor work sites.
• Implement control measures that include providing employees with cool drinking water, break areas with cooling measures, indoor work area controls, acclimatization protocols for new and returning unacclimatized employees, paid rest breaks to prevent overheating, and regular and effective two-way communication.
• Provide initial and annual refresher training for supervisors, heat safety coordinators, and employees.

The proposed standard would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction. However, OSHA is proposing to exclude from the rule: short-duration employee exposures to heat, emergency response activities, work at indoor sites kept below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and indoor sedentary work activities.

We have a problem with some of these exemptions and will write comments to that effect. Any examples of your experiences will be valuable. Please send your stories or examples to: 4healthandsafety@aft.org.